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Understanding IBDP Music and Group 6

IBDP Music 

One of the fundamental aims of this course is to ensure that you have a range of experiences that merge the roles of researchers, creators, and performers to develop the holistic learner in you. In these roles, you learn to investigate in authentic ways (researcher), make music by composing, improvising and arranging (creator), and develop your practical skills in music making (performer). For more on this see page 25 of the Guide (available on MyIB).

"Understanding the Group" Photo by Margarida CSilva on Unsplash 

Group 6 Subjects 

IBDP Music is one of the offerings in the Group 6 category (The Arts), along with dance, visual arts, theatre, and film. You can read more about these options here. The Standard Level course for Film (as of March 2023) is also available through Pamoja (online learning courses). Click HERE for a complete range of courses offered through online learning. 

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

It is possible for you to NOT study one of the Arts subjects, but take on one of the Experimental Sciences (Group 4), subjects in Individuals and Societies (Group 3) OR one of the Language courses (Group 1 or 2) instead. This can be the reason that the number of students is often low in the Group 6 subjects. It depends on a number of factors of course, including the school culture, and the pathways that students map out for themselves.

For more information on this CLICK here, which will take you to Arts Aims. 

Selecting Subjects in the IB Diploma

Here is a summary of the Subject Groups in the IB diploma, as well as the CORE components:  

Ordinarily, students take THREE subjects at Higher Level (HL) and THREE subjects at Standard Level (SL), but it is possible to take four subjects at HL. This will depend on timetabling, school flexibility, and likely student ability. 

We would certainly encourage you to take on one of the Arts subjects when possible, as this broadens the student's diploma experience. 

On page 7 of the Music Guide, it states, "Music not only offers a way of understanding the world, but also a means by which we can express and share our understanding of it with others". 

This connects with the IB Mission Statement that states, in part, that one of its aims is to develop 'intercultural understanding and respect'. 

Photo by RUT MIIT on Unsplash

Here is a summary of the IBDP Music Syllabus (first assessment 2022) in the form of a spoken commentary and accompanying visuals, including important features that dictate its framework. 

There are THREE versions for you (all of these versions have been embedded in this thread below). You may use this as a chapter guide (see "Show More" on YouTube to navigate this): 

6:50 Overview of the Course

8:25 Summary of Components and their Interplay

9:44 The Four Areas of Inquiry

13:30 Contexts

15:24 Musical Processes

16:16 Musical Roles

17:36 Assessment Objectives

20:31 Graphic Summary of all Components

22:13 Assessment Summary

24:41 Conclusion

Version 1: Using Copyright-Free Background Music 

Note: This video was produced just after the current course was released (for first assessment in 2022). You may skip the opening portion that provides a comparison with the former course and straight to the current iteration (from 6'50"), which provides an overview of the current syllabus (see above for other sections). 

Version 2: Using No Ambient Music 

Note: This video was produced just after the current course was released (for first assessment in 2022). You may skip the opening portion that provides a comparison with the former course and straight to the current iteration (from 6'50"), which provides an overview of the current syllabus (see above for other sections). 

Version 3: Using Background Music from Diverse Sources

Note: This video was produced just after the current course was released (for first assessment in 2022). You may skip the opening portion that provides a comparison with the former course and straight to the current iteration (from 6'50"), which provides an overview of the current syllabus (see above for other sections). 

Introducing the IBDP Music DP Course - PowerPoint Video

Here is another version that addresses all the key components of the course. 

This version contains a video with commentary, as well as a downloadable PDF illustrating all of its key features. 

 

PDF - Introducing the IBDP Music course 

Here is an accompanying pdf containing the important features of the course. 

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